Package for dispensing articles



June 13, 1967 B. EDWARDS 3,325,000

PACKAGE FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES Filed Sept. 28, 19 64 3 Sheets-Sheet 1His Aft)- June 13, 1967 B EDWARDS 3,325,000

PACKAGE FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES Filed Sept. 28, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENT Bryant E dwa His Affj June 13, 1967 B. EDWARDS 3,325,000

PACKAGE FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES Filed Sept. 28, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet .2;

, INVENTOR Bryant Edwards BY W7%K His A/fj United tates Patent fiice3,325,990 Patented June 13, 1967 Delaware Fiied Sept. 28, 1964. Ser. N9,762 2 Ciairns. (Q1. 206-56) The present invention relates to a noveland unique package for articles of manufacture such as cigars and thelike, and more particularly, to a package for retaining and selectivelydispensing individual articles of manufacture without exposing anyarticles remaining in the package.

The packaging of cigars has heretofore been accomplished by placingindividual cigars, usually covered with a transparent overwrap, in apaperboard box or carton which may also be wrapped with a transparentcovering. The removal of the cigars from these boxes or cartons exposesthem to the outside atmosphere, and thus it has een necessary toindividually wrap the cigars to prevent them from becoming stale. Thishas in turn brought about tear-strip features for the individual cigarwraps to facilitate removal of the cigars therefrom. As a result, cigarpackaging has been quite expensive due to the necessity of providingindividual wraps for the cigars as well as boxes or cartons in which aplurality of cigars are placed.

Removal of the first cigar from a box or carton is not accomplished withfacility since they are closely packed together for economy, and toprevent shifting and a consequent harm to each other. When one or morecigars have been removed from the box or carton, the likelihood ofinjury due to shifting cigars becomes more acute, and it also becomesdifficult to grasp the cigars. In some instances, spacer elements havebeen provided, but this will increase the cost of the package as will beobvious, and it does not facilitate removal.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a noveland unique package which overcomes the above noted deficiencies.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide anovel and unique package for articles of manufacture such as cigars andthe like wherein the articles can be removed one at a time withoutexposure of the remaining articles within the package.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a noveland unique package which protects articles of manufacture from exposureto the outside atmosphere whether or not they have overwraps orcoverings.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of anovel and unique package which facilitates the removal of articlescontained therewithin.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a noveland unique package which will facilitate the packaging of one or aplurality of articles without great expense.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a noveland unique package which is aesthetically pleasing in appearance anddisplays the articles to consumers, while also protecting the articlesfrom injury.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of anovel and unique package which, in at least one form of the invention,is capable of being reduced in size with the removal of individualarticles.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of novel package, with articlescontained therein, which is constructed in accordance with the teachingsof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of thepackage illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the package shown in FIG. 1 without anyarticles or products received therein;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another form of package coming withinthe purview of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified receptacle which may be usedin forming the package of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the modified receptacle shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the form of package shown inFIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet still another form of packageconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another modified receptacle which may beused in forming packages coming within the scope of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of yet still another form of packagecoming within the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a partially exploded perspective view of yet still anotherform of package within the scope of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of packagewhich comes within the scope of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the package shown in FIG. 12 and takenalong lines 13-13 thereof, but without showing any of the articles orproducts within the package;

FIG. 14 is an elevational view of the package shown in FIG. 12 with oneof the receptacles being separated from the remainder of the package;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the individualreceptacles shown in FIGS. 12l5;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a modified form of package similar toFIGS. 12-14, and showing the articles or products contained therein;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of an individual receptaclewhich may be used with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 12-14 and 16;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which apair of FIG. 17 receptacles engage one another;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary perspective view of yet still another modifiedform of receptacle which may be used with the form of invention shown inFIGS. 1214 and 16;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the manner in whicha pair of FIG. 19 receptacles engage one another;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view of yet still another form ofreceptacle which may be used with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1214and 16; and

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which apair of FIG. 21 receptacles engage one another.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIGS. 1-3 and 7, there isshown a package 10 for retaining and dispensing articles of manufacturesuch as the cigars 20. It is to be understood that the term articles ofmanufacture is not limited to cigars, but includes any artificial ornaturally made products.

The package shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 7 comprises a supporting tray orcontainer body 30, preferably made of thermoplastic material such aspolypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, etc., and is provided with aplurality of adjacently positioned and interconnected receptacles 32 towhich a cover element or sheet is secured. Each of the receptacles 32 ofthe supporting tray is provided with a bottom wall 34 and a peripherallycontinuous sidewall 36 extending upwardly therefrom which terminates inan open upper end 38 at the top of each receptacle. A rigidifying flange40 surrounds each receptacle adjacent the open upper end thereof andextends substantially normal to the sidewall 36. Adjacent pairs ofreceptacles 32 are interconnected to each other by way of therigidifying flanges 40 which extend therebetween to provide a unitarysupporting tray.

It is to be noted that the receptacles shown in the various figures ofthe present invention are substantially elongated in shape, but it is tobe understood that other shapes and configurations may be used ifdesired. In the rigidifying flanges at one end of each elongatedreceptacle, there is provided a notch 42 which is used to facilitateremoval of the cover sheet from the various receptacles as will becomeapparent hereinafter.

The supporting tray 30 can be formed with one or more receptacles, andin the cigar packaging field, will normally consist of fiveinterconnected receptacles. When the supporting tray has been formed bysuitable molding apparatus, the cigars may be readily placed within thereceptacles and thereafter covered by the cover sheet or element 60.This cover sheet or element may be made of a thin plastic film which iscapable of being heat sealed to the rigidifying flanges of thereceptacles, but preferably it comprises a relatively rigid backingmember made of plastic, cardboard and the like which is coated with anadhesive in order to impart rigidity to the package as a whole. Where asubstantially inflexible backing member is used, the receptacles will berestrained from deflecting toward each other, and thus decrease thelikelihood of injury to the products contained therein.

As will be seen from an inspection of FIG. 2 in the drawings, the coversheet or element 60 is provided with a plurality of weakened areas 62 inthe form of parallel rows of perforations, and are so located as to bein alignment with the rigidifying flanges between adjacently positionedreceptacles. If desired, the rigidifying flanges may also be providedwith weakened areas. Once the cigars or other articles of manufacturehave been placed within the receptacles, the cover sheet or element 60may be secured to the supporting tray in the manner described above soas to provide the package shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 7 of the drawings. Whenthe cover sheet is in position on the supporting tray, marginal edgeportions of these sheets, which are here designated as 64, will overliethe notches 42 formed in the rigidifying flanges of the supporting trayas illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 7 of the drawings. In effecting removal ofcigars or other products from the receptacles, it is a relatively simplematter for the user to grasp a marginal edge portion 64 of the coversheet and tear or separate a cover sheet portion 66 which overlies aspecific receptacle without exposing the contents of the remainingreceptacles. This is depicted in FIG. 7 of the drawings wherein aportion 66 of the cover sheet overlying the receptacle at the right ofthe package is shown as being partially removed therefrom. The remainderof the cover sheet will remain adhered and secured to the rigidifyingflanges of the supporting tray to prevent exposure to the outsideatmosphere. Notches 42 in the supporting tray aid the user in graspingcover sheet portions 66 since they are of a size and shape to facilitatethe entry of a users fingers therewithin, and are centrally located atone end of each receptacle to assure accurate removal of individualcover sheet portions.

The type of package just described is designed to eliminate thenecessity of using cellophane or other transparent overwraps for thecigars since the cover sheets will effectively seal the contents of eachreceptacle from exposure. It may nevertheless be desired to individuallywrap the products, and such is within the contemplation of the presentinvention. In its preferred form, the package 10, including both thesupporting tray and cover sheet, are made of transparent material fordisplaying the products contained therein, but in certain instances,such as where it may be desirable to impart rigidity to the pack- 4 age,the cover sheet may be made of a nontransparent reinforcing material. Inany case, it is desirable that the cover sheet accommodate advertisingliterature thereon for identifying the products to consumers.

Since the cigars or other products are received within separatecompartments of the package, the possibility of harm due to shifting ofthe products is substantially eliminated. In this regard, it isspecifically to be noted that the receptacles are preferably conformedgenerally to the shape of the products so as to maintain them in a substantially fixed position while contained within the receptacles.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings and designated 10a issimilar to the embodiment just described as indicated by the applicationof identical reference numerals with the suflix a employed to designatelike parts. In this embodiment, generally opposed margins of thesupporting tray 30a at each end of the elongated receptacles areprovided with a pair of reversely bent flanges 44 which are adapted toslidingly receive the cover sheet 69a. The flanges preferably hold thecover sheet 60a in engagement with the rigidifying flanges of thereceptacles so as to substantiallyseal off the contents thereof from thesurrounding atmosphere. In removing cigars or other products from thereceptacles, it is merely necessary to slide the cover sheet away fromthe open upper end of one or more receptacles depending upon the numberof products desired to be removed so as to enable the user to grasp theproducts. It will be apparent that this form of invention will alsoprevent exposure to products not desired to be removed as well asprovide a substantially rigid package.

Another modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5-6 and issimilar to the above described embodiments as indicated by theapplication of identical reference numerals with the suflix b employedto designate like parts. The supporting tray 30]) shown in these figuresis substantially rectangular in shape as are the receptacles 3212,although other shapes are possible. The essential difference of thismodification over the previous embodiments resides in the peripherallycontinuous skirt means 46 which is integrally connected to and extendsdownwardly from the marginal portions of the rigidifying flanges 40bsurrounding the receptacles. Such a construction will reinforce andstrengthen the package so as to prevent collapse of the receptacles. Itis also to be noted that the bottom wall, sidewalls and rigidifyingflanges of each receptacle are joined to respective portions thereof atright angles so as to further strengthen the supporting tray. It ispreferable, though not necessary, tha tthe peripherally continuous ordepending skirt means 46 extends beneath the bottom walls 341) of thereceptacle as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings in order to space thebottom walls of the receptacles upwardly from a complementary supportingsurface for protecting the products contained within the receptacles.

The form of package shown in FIG. 8 is generally similar to the otherembodiments as indicated by the application of identical referencenumerals with the sutfix c employed to designate like parts. Only aportion of the cover element 600 is shown in this embodiment, it beingunderstood that the cover element will overlie and cover all of thereceptacles of the package. The form of the invention shown here issimilar to FIGS. 5-6 in that the package and receptacles aresubstantially rectangular in form, but as will be apparent, one end ofeach receptacle is interrupted for the entire height of the receptaclesidewall for purposes to be presently described. In all of the forms ofthe invention previously described, the removal of the cover elementfrom a specific receptacle still necessitates grasping of the cigar inorder to remove it from the open receptacle. In this form of theinvention, however, the cigars 200 may readily slide from thereceptacles upon the separation of a cover element portion 66c from itscorresponding receptacle. In order to prevent shifting movement of thecigars or other products while contained within the receptacles,connecting webs 48 are provided. These connecting webs 48 are providedwith an outwardly facing curvilinear surface substantially conforming tothe shape of the cigars, and are spaced upwardly from the bottom wallsof each receptacle by an amount sufficient to prevent longitudinallyshifting movement of the cigars while retained within the receptacles ofthe package. It is to be noted that the cover element title in this formof the invention must, of necessity, extend over the open end of thereceptacles for covering and sealing the contents thereof. Tab means maybe provided, if desired, for removing cover element portions 660 fromthe receptacles.

The modified form of supporting tray 30d shown in FIG. 9 is generallysimilar to the other embodiments, and substantially the same as the FIG.8 embodiment, as indicated by the application of identical referencenumerals with the suffix d employed to designate like parts. Instead ofemploying the connecting means 48 as in the FIG. 8 embodiment, thesidewall adjacent at least one end of the receptacles as at 50 may beshortened in height as compared with the remainder of the sidewall toprevent shifting of the cigars or other articles while the cover elementis in place on the receptacles, but still provide dispensing, withoutgrasping, of the articles upon the removal of cover element portion asin the FIG. 8 embodiment.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are generally similar to theother embodiments as indicated by the application of identical referencenumerals with the suffixes e and f respectively used to designate likeparts. In FIG. 10, an open mouth container 52 of substantially rigidconstruction and having a configuration generally complementary to thesupporting tray a is provided for receiving the same therewithin so asto reinforce and strengthen the package. The supporting tray 3012, as isthe case with the supporting tray 30a in the FIG. 4 em bodiment, may beprovided, if desired, with a cover element of the type previouslydescribed as an extra precaution in protecting the contents of thereceptacles.

The rigid open mouth containers 54 shown in the FIG. 11 embodiment areused with a package which is identical to the FIGS. 1-3 and 7embodiment. In this case, the open mouth containers 54 are complementaryin configuration to generally opposed marginal areas of the package aswill be apparent so as to reinforce and strengthen the same.

The forms of the invention just described generally comprise asupporting tray having a plurality of integrally attached receptaclesfor receiving cigars or other products. It is also within the purview ofthe present invention to provide a series of individual stacked trayswhich are adjacently positioned and interconnected to one another aswill become apparent from the following discussion of the FIGS. 12-22modifications.

One form of stacked tray arrangement is shown in FIGS. 12-14 and isidentified by 10g. This package has a plurality of trays 70 each havinga bottom wall 74 and a side wall 76 which extends upwardly therefrom andterminates in open upper end 78 as best seen in FIGS. 13 and 15. Part ofthe sidewall is reduced as at 80 to provide an externally projectingshoulder 82 which is in alignment with the remainder of the sidewall.Sidewall portion 80 is laterally offset inwardly from the remainder ofthe sidewall by an amount sufiicient to cause frictional engagement withan upper sidewall portion of an adjacently positioned container, as isbest seen in FIG. 13, while at the same time maintaining the sidewallsof the receptacles in substantial alignment with each other. Thus, eachpair of adjacently positioned receptacles in the package 10g arereleaseably secured to one another and effectively prevent the entranceof air into the lowermost receptacle of each pair. This enables thereduced sidewall portion 80 and the bottom wall 74 of the uppermostreceptacle in each pair of adjacently positioned receptacles to serve asa seal and cover for the contents of the lowermost receptacle.Preferably, the receptacles frictionally engage one another in such amanner as to provide a seal and cover for the contents of thereceptacles Without making it difficult to separate them from each otherby hand as is indicated in FIG. 14.

The bottom wall in each of the receptacles of a package, except for thelowermost receptacle, will serve as a cover element for an associatedreceptacle. In the case of the uppermost receptacle, a closure member 82is employed and is provided with a depending flange 84 which is adaptedto be nestably received within the open upper end 78 of the uppermostreceptacle. Removal of the cigars or other products from the receptaclesin the stacked tray package is preferably accomplished by first removingthe lowermost receptacle, and since the bottom wall of the next adjacentreceptacle is used as a cover element for the lowermost receptacle, theremainder of the cigars contained in the other receptacles will not beexposed to the outside atmosphere. Thereafter, the next adjacentreceptacle will be removed from the package and so on until all of theproducts have been consumed. It is also possible to remove the cigarsfrom the package by first removing the closure member and then removingsubsequent receptacles, but this will leave the upper sidewall portionof the tnays or receptacles unprotected, and this is undesirable fromthe consumers viewpoint. In either case, whether the removal of thecigars is begun at the top or bottom of the package, it will be apparentthat the size of the package will be diminished thus indicating to theconsumer the number of unused or unconsumed products.

The form of stacked tray package shown in FIG. 16 and identified 19a isgenerally similar to the FIGS. 12-15 embodiment as indicated by theapplication of identical reference numerals with the sufiix h employedto designate like parts. This form of the invention departs from what isshown in FIGS. 12-15 by using a slightly modified form of tray 70h forthe uppermost receptacle and a transparent overwrap 90 for encompassingthe entire package as well as for covering and sealing the uppermostreceptacle. Receptacle 70h is not provided with an upper sidewallportion above the externally projection shoulder 82h, but the reducedsidewall portion 80h thereof cooperates with the upper sidewall portionof the next lowermost tray or receptacle in the same manner aspreviously described. In removing the products from this particularpackage, the transparent overwrap is removed, thus exposing the cigarpositioned in the uppermost receptacle. Thereafter, the remainder of thecigars may be dispensed by removing the lowermost receptacle in thepackage and so on as was previously described in connection with theFIGS. 12-15 embodiments.

FIGS. 17-18, 19-20 and 21-22 show modified forms of the trays orreceptacles used in the FIGS. 12-16 embodiments, and like parts will bedesignated by the same numerals with sufiixes i, j and k usedrespectively to designate like parts. The tray shown in FIGS. 17-18differs in that the externally projecting shoulder 821' is morepronounced, and thus frictionally engages a smaller area of the uppersidewall portion 761' in an adjacently positioned receptacle.

In FIGS. 19-20, the receptacle 7flj, in addition to having a reducedsidewall portion and an externally projecting shoulder 80j, 82respectively as in the FIGS. 12-16 embodiments, is also provided with aninternally projecting shoulder 84 in the upper sidewall area of thereceptacle. Internally projecting shoulder 84 will also serve in thisembodiment as a means to frictionally engage the reduced sidewallportion in an adjacently positioned receptacle so as to releaseablysecure them to each other. FIGS. 21-22 show an inwardly facing lug orshoulder 86 provided in the upper sidewall portion 76k which cooperateswith an outwardly facing slot means 88 formed in the reduced sidewallarea 80k so as to releaseably secure the trays or receptacles 70k toeach other. Obviously, it is also possible to provide an outwardlyfacing lug or shoulder which cooperates with an inwardly facing slotmeans if desired.

From the foregoing, it will now be appreciated that the presentinvention contemplates various novel forms of article dispensingpackages which can be economically and efficiently produced at rapidspeeds under present manufacturing techniques, while at the same timeeffectively retaining and protecting the articles positioned within thepackage as well as facilitating removal-of individual products therefromwithout exposing any products remaining in the package. It will also beappreciated that the package will effectively display the articlestherein, and is aesthetically pleasing in appearance.

Although specific embodiments have been shown and described herein, itis with full awareness that many modifications thereof are possible. Theinvention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as isnecessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A package for dispensing articles of manufacture comprising aone-piece container body made from thin thermoplastic material andincluding a plurality of adjacently positioned discrete receptacles ofelongated shape each being provided with a bottom wall and a side wallextending upwardly therefrom and terminating in an open upper end, saidcontainer body having a rigiditying flange integrally attached to theopen upper end of each receptacle in surrounding relationship theretoand extending substantially normal to the receptacle side Wall, therigidifying flanges of adjacent receptacles being integrally joined toone another whereby to provide a unitary container body, a thermoplasticcover element releaseably secured to said rigidifying flanges in amanner to overlie the open upper end of each receptacle and seal thecontents thereof from the outside atmosphere, means providing selectiveremoval of the cover element from each receptacle without exposing theremaining receptacles, each receptacle side wall being provided with aportion transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof and of smallerheight than the remainder of said side wall to prevent shifting of saidarticles of manufacture while said cover element is in place on saidreceptacles, but facilitating slding removal of said articles upon theseparation of said cover element therefrom and tilting of saidreceptacles from a horizontal position.

2. A package for dispensing articles of manufacture comprising aone-piece container body made from thin thermoplastic material andincluding a plurality of adjacently positioned discrete receptacles ofelongated shape each being provided with a bottom wall and a side wallextending upwardly therefrom and terminating in an open upper end, saidcontainer body having a rigidifying flange integrally attached to theopen upper end of each receptacle in surrounding relationship theretoand extending substantially normal to the receptacle side wall, therigidifying flanges of adjacent receptacles being integrally oined toone another whereby to provide a unitary container body, a thermoplasticcover element releaseably secured to said rigidifying flanges in amanner to overlie the open upper end of each receptacle and seal thecontents thereof from the outside atmosphere, means providing selectiveremoval of the cover element from each receptacle without exposing theremaining receptacles, each receptacle side wall being provided with anopening transverse to the longitudinal axis of and extending from thebottom wall to the open upper end thereof, and web means ofpredetermined height spanning each opening to prevent shifting of saidarticles of manufacture when said cover element is secured to saidreceptacles, but permitting sliding dispensing removal of said articlesof manufacture through said openings upon the separation of said coverelement from said receptacles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 820,773 5/1906 Fleming 229 -91,745,929 2/ 1930 Grimmeisen. 2,091,603 8/1937 Lernire 206-412 2,138,24111/1938 Koch et a1. 3,329,866 9/1943 Van Sickels. 3,013,656 12/1961Murphy 206-72 3,121,492 2/1964 De Paul et al. 206-- 3,133,635 5/1964Gordon et al. 20617.5 3,207,302 9/1965 Hobbs 206-63.2

FOREIGN PATENTS 599,808 10/ 1925 France. 1,152,024 8/ 1957 France.

655,998 8/ 1951 Great Britain.

565,715 8/1957 Italy.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

W. T. DIXSON, IR., Assistant Examiner.

1. A PACKAGE FOR DISPENSING ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING AONE-PIECE CONTAINER BODY MADE FROM THIN THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL ANDINCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ADJACENTLY POSITIONED DISCRETE RECEPTACLES OFELONGATED SHAPE EACH BEING PROVIDED WITH A BOTTOM WALL AND A SIDE WALLEXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM AND TERMINATING IN AN OPEN UPPER END, SAIDCONTAINER BODY HAVING A RIGIDIFYING FLANGE INTEGRALLY ATTACHED TO THEOPEN UPPER END OF EACH RECEPTACLE IN SURROUNDING RELATIONSHIP THERETOAND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE RECEPTACLE SIDE WALL, THERIGIDIFYING FLANGES OF ADJACENT RECEPTACLES BEING INTEGRALLY JOINED TOONE ANOTHER WHEREBY TO PROVIDE A UNITARY CONTAINER BODY, ATHERMOSPLASTIC COVER ELEMENT RELEASEABLY SECURED TO SAID RIGIDIFYINGFLANGES IN A MANNER TO OVERLIE THE OPEN UPPER END OF EACH RECEPTACLE ANDSEAL THE CONTENTS THEREOF FROM THE OUTSIDE ATMOSPHERE, MEANS PROVIDINGSELECTIVE REMOVAL OF THE COVER ELEMENT FROM EACH RECEPTACLE WITHOUTEXPOSING THE REMAINING RECEPTACLES, EACH RECEPTACLE SIDE WALL BEINGPROVIDED WITH A PORTION TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF ANDOF SMALLER HEIGHT THAN THE REMAINDER OF SAID SIDE WALL TO PREVENTSHIFTING OF SAID ARTICLES OF MANUFACTURE WHILE SAID COVER ELEMENT IS INPLACE ON SAID RECEPTACLES, BUT FACILITATING SLIDING REMOVAL OF SAIDARTICLES UPON THE SEPARATION OF SAID COVER ELEMENT THEREFROM AND TILTINGOF SAID RECEPTACLES FROM A HORIZONTAL POSITION.